05/02/2008
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Morning Sentinel staff photofrom the Kennebec Journal
ATTACK SURVIVORS BATTLE ON
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Baldacci's weapon to fight energy crisis: 'Yankee ingenuity'
RANDOLPH Officials differ on expenses
Woman's body found in river
Richmond chef is top lobster cook
Hunt resigns as Cony boys basketball coach
O'Brien on 'big stage'
All of today's:
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from the Kennebec Journal
from the Morning Sentinel
FAIRFIELD State closes store Jim's Variety loses seller's certificate over sales tax issue
WATERVILLE Searchers find body
'Our lives will never be the same again'
State school officials encouraged by test results
Colby gives library $75K Gift will go toward renovation effort
RAIN DELAY HALTS DRAWDOWN
HERSOM, HUSSEY FACE A CROWD
Teams ready to go
All of today's:
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from the Morning Sentinel
"This is -- I don't even know what to say -- this is unbelievable," he said.
Worden, 44, and his roommate, Rob McMann, 36, lost everything in the fire, which broke out Thursday afternoon when neither was home. The fire was reported at 12:22 p.m.
About 20 firefighters from five towns battled the blaze on Old Eames Road, which had destroyed the home before they even arrived, according to Winslow Fire Captain Kevin Fredette.
"The people who were here first said the fire was concentrated in the center of the building and from that and the burn patterns, we'll start looking there," Fredette said at the scene.
Later in the afternoon, he said he did not think officials would be able to find out how the fire started.
"Damage was too extensive to determine a cause," he said.
Worden said he did not know what started the fire.
"I took off to do some shopping," he said. "Somebody found me. People usually know where I am. I've lived here eight years. Everything's gone -- all my pictures, everything. We're sitting here wondering how we're going to rebuild this place. It's kind of hard to do that right now."
Worden said he has had a hard time lately because his dog recently died. But he is thankful for his neighbors, who made sure the homemade wooden coffin containing the dog's remains was taken out of the garage and placed on the lawn as the house was burning.
"They got her out of the garage, thank God," Worden said. "She was old. We were just going to bury her this weekend."
McMann said he was at work at Waterville Tire on College Avenue in Waterville when he learned of the fire, and hurried home.
"I got two phone calls -- one from my neighbor and one from my boss," he said.
McMann has lived at the mobile home only about 11/2 years, he said.
Friends and neighbors said they will make sure the men get the things they need, such as food and clothing. Dan and Lisa Hood of Quimby Lane offered to lend them a camper to stay in until they can get back on their feet. Neighbor Sheila Gaulin offered her home as well.
Gaulin said she was volunteering at the Sacred Heart Soup Kitchen in Waterville when her daughter called to say Worden's home was on fire. She rushed home.
"We couldn't find Gary and we couldn't find Rob," Gaulin said. "Gary is disabled."
She vowed to make sure Worden and McCann have a roof over their heads.
"If nothing else, they can live in my cellar," she said, as she watched the home burn. "We'll make room for them if we have to. It'll be tight, but we can do it. I've known Gary six or eight years. He's always there for me, you know. Vice versa. He's a good guy. Everything he owns was in there. All the pictures of his kids."
At the scene Thursday, firefighters from Winslow, Waterville, Fairfield, Albion and Vassalboro fought the fire, using axes to cut metal and wood and managing to save Worden's garage. Winslow police also were on hand to help. Neighbors gathered to watch.
Fredette said he was lucky to get as many firefighters as he did to the fire.
"It's a bad time of day -- real bad time," he said. "The thing is, it used to be that companies let people go to go to fires. They can't anymore. They've downsized to the point we can't get help."
He said the fire inside the mobile home was intense, as it was held in by the roof.
"It's a bear to fight," he said. "The aluminum roof came with the trailer and they put a steel roof on top of it. Until it totally erupted and black smoke was visible, you don't know what you have."
Dan Hood said a public supper is being arranged to benefit Worden and McMann. The American Red Cross also had been called.
Old Eames Road is a short dead-end road off Eames Road, which is off Garland Road. Worden's property, which runs along Pattee Pond Stream, is near the Benton town line.
Fredette said the home was insured. Firefighters stayed at the scene until 2:43 p.m., he said.
Amy Calder -- 861-9247
acalder@centralmaine.com
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